Walnut Ridge, Ark. – The Columbia College softball team swept American Midwest Conference (AMC) leader Williams Baptist College this afternoon at WBC Softball Field in Walnut Ridge, Ark. The Cougars defeated the 22^nd-ranked Eagles by a score of 2-0 in game one before winning game two 3-1. With the victories, Columbia improves to 18-16 overall and 8-6 in conference play while Williams Baptist falls to 23-13 on the season and 13-5 in league play.

In game one, Columbia recorded five hits and left seven on base while the Eagles were limited to four hits and left three runners on.
After two scoreless innings, the Cougars struck for a run in the top of the third. Olivia Denslow singled to left, advanced to second on a sacrificed bunt by Dakota Newton and scored on an RBI single by Rachel Sullivan.

The Eagles threatened to score in the fourth inning as Callie Brooks and Brooke Mason hit back-to-back singles with one out, but the Cougars would work out of the jam, keeping the Eagles off of the board.

Following a quick fifth inning, Columbia would tally one more run in the sixth. Carly Spalding led off with a base hit to center and moved to second on a stolen base. Molly Carter then walked and Allyson Metz reached on a fielding error to load the bases. Angelica Serles followed with a long hit ball to right field, allowing Spalding to tag up and score.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Andrea Drake singled in hopes of a comeback, but starting pitcher Paxton Welch forced a groundout to end the game.

Welch went the distance on the mound for the Cougars, allowing just four hits and striking out three. Sullivan, Spalding, Metz, Denslow, and Newton had one hit apiece in the contest.

Game two proved to be tough as neither team was able to score until the fifth inning. Columbia struck first in the top of the frame on a solo homerun by Denslow. The Eagles responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth to knot the score following an RBI single by Jordyn Barkowsky.

Columbia carried the momentum into the sixth inning as they would notch two more runs on four hits. With two outs, Sullivan singled to right field and scored on a double by Spalding. The next at bat, Carter stroked a base hit to center field, bringing in Spalding for the 3-1 advantage. The Eagles were unable to make a comeback, as the Cougars held the home team scoreless in the sixth and seventh inning to earn the sweep.

Lauren McCroskie started in the circle, allowing just three hits and striking out one in five innings of work. Welch entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and earned the save, holding the Eagles scoreless and striking out one. Metz led the offense with two hits while Sullivan, Spalding, Carter, Denslow and Serles chipped in one hit apiece.

Columba returns to conference action tomorrow as they take on Freed-Hardeman University in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. in Henderson, Tenn.